Pesticides help protect crops, but sometimes harm our health. The European Union closely monitors these chemical products and their use.

A-Z: P for Pesticides

I'm sure you know   pesticides are chemical products.

We use them to fight   crop diseases and weeds.

Pesticides can be used to protect   crops from weeds, insects and parasites.

Pesticides are useful, but too much of them   pollutes the soil and water.

They can also lead to   diseases in humans.

To limit the damage, the EU has decided   to vote in tougher measures.

Let's take a look at how   the EU is tightening up pesticide rules

so we end up   with less of them on our plates.

Each year the EU produces   250,000 tonnes of pesticides.

Many of these substances cause serious   damage to the environment and our health.

Although some chemicals are dangerous,   they are needed to fight crop diseases.

This is why the EU wants   to control their uses.

A dangerous substance list has been   drawn up to help control pesticides better.

Farmers will receive better information.

22 chemicals will be banned   from use in pesticides from 2013

as they cause   serious diseases in humans.

Not everyone likes the list. It might   make some farmers' lives more difficult.

We need pesticides to produce   enough food to feed everyone.

But they shouldn't endanger   EU citizens' lives.

Member States must apply   European laws from 2013,

when dangerous chemicals   will be banned.

The chemicals industry must find   safer pesticides.

Other rules will require Member   States to protect groundwater better.

These pockets of water   provide us with drinking water.

Safety zones will be required between   farming areas and rivers and lakes.

The same rule will apply to agricultural   zones and residential or public areas.

Once the EU Member States   apply these laws

pesticide spraying over inhabited areas   will be very limited,

and the use of these dangerous products   near rivers and lakes will be prohibited.